WITH A PASSION FOR HISTORY
ABOUT CARRIE
My Story

I was born in California’s agricultural Central Valley, and my brother arrived two years later. I turned seven the summer our parents moved us from the outskirts of Los Angeles to a tiny community in northern Indiana, where my best friends morphed from Latinas to Amish girls.

My first research obsession? The Lincoln assassination. At age ten I raided my dad's Civil War books for more information. Aliens quickly followed--I still base my ideal of feminine strength on Ellen Ripley--but the most influential emerged with the debut of "The Young Riders," a '90s TV show about the Pony Express. I became the foremost authority on pony express history at my high school. Not much of a boast, but research, fan fiction, and historical romances kept me out of trouble.

I majored in history and English, and spent my junior year in England, where I met my husband. I earned my MA in history with a thesis on Old West outlaws and the impact of legend on society.

After getting serious about becoming published in romantic fiction, I started my career with Zebra Debut in 2008. I was also one of the authors who helped launch Harlequin's Carina Press. 

In 2010 I signed with Pocket to write the Christies family saga of Victorian romances. The second in the series, Starlight, set in Scotland, was awarded 4½ Stars Top Pick from RT BookReviews and is an RT Reviewers' Choice Award nominee for Best British Isles-Set Historical Romance of 2012. 

I've since expanded my career to new genres! Co-writing through Berkley under the name Ellen Connor, the "Dark Age Dawning" trilogy of hot-and-dirty apocalyptic romances were all awarded 4½ Stars Top Picks. The first in the series, Nightfall, won the RT Reviewers' Choice award for best futuristic paranormal romance of 2011, and was been nominated for a RITA in the Best Paranormal Romance category.

I also co-write contemporary romantic erotica for Samhain under the name Katie Porter. The "Vegas Top Guns" series will continue through 2013, after a great start. The first three were all awarded a 4½ Stars Top Pick from RT BookReviews, as was our Christmas-themed Came Upon A Midnight Clear. Katie Porter has already garnered two RT Reviewers' Choice Award nominations for Best Erotic Romance Ebook of 2012.
Bits O' Trivia

Best adventure: my study abroad year in England

Fave musicians: U2, Chris Isaak, Florence + the Machine, a-ha, Imogen Heap, Radiohead, Interpol, Vast, The Fray, Bat for Lashes

I first noticed my husband: dancing, then discussing imperial Russian history

First romance: Santana Rose by Olga Bicos

Fave thrills: anticipation, new music, roller coasters, monster movies

Pets: three tabbies (Hopi, Walter and Rory)

Fave places: Cancun, the London Underground, the shores of Lake Michigan

Fave TV shows: "Doctor Who," "So You Think You Can Dance," "Spartacus," "Smash," "Say Yes to the Dress" 

Previous jobs: late night fast food cook, concrete laborer, graduate teaching assistant, financial secretary, waffle waitress

Want to visit: Salzburg

Worst fear: harm to my family

Biggest time waster: YouTube

Fave foods: freshly baked bread, mocha latte, enchiladas, lasagna, donuts

My heroes have always been: clever, funny, intense, wiry, dark-haired

My heroines have always been: tough, sassy, bold, maternal, independent



   

Carrie's Co-Written Alter Egos:





Content, web design, flash files, and films created by Carrie Lofty. Copyright . All rights reserved.